UK Government boosts Scottish monkfish industry

Published:13:45Friday 15 July 2016

Scottish fishermen have received a boost with the announcement that the UK Government is to lift the ban on overseas trading of skates and rays quotas. This will help the Scottish industry manage their fishing activity.

The industry had been lobbying for the change to allow it to trade quotas with Belgium to allow increased fishing of monkfish.

The decision comes after a meeting on July 12 of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and is based on the uptake of the rays and skates quotas being lower this year than last.

Up to 25 tonnes of skates and rays can now be traded internationally. The position will be reviewed later in the year.

Secretary of State of State for Scotland David Mundell said: “This is good news for the Scottish fishing industry, and I am really pleased that the UK Government has been able to push this forward. The Scottish fishing industry has been pressing for this change, and we have listened and delivered.”

Fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing contribute £1.63 billion to the UK economy and employ 34,600 people across the UK.

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